What Happens on Counting Day? 25 FAQs for Counting Agents and Anyone Else Interested

The election fever has somewhat subsided for the time being with the completion of all seven phases of polling to elect the next Lok Sabha and new Vidhan Sabhas in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.

Exit polls are predicting the probable outcome of these elections. Many of us are discussing the forecast animatedly; some are meditating over the manner in which the people’s mandate might reveal itself on counting day.

But one set of people, other than polling officials, who still have their task cut out for the final stage of the elections are the ‘counting agents’.

Thousands of them will be required to go to the venues where votes will be counted and the results will be declared, because the contesting candidates are too few in number and cannot be present at all these places to observe the counting process.

Political parties are circulating educational materials to assist their counting agents to understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to the counting systems and procedures laid down by the law.

However, candidates contesting as independents might not have the kind of resources required to sensitise their counting agents that political parties do.

This set of FAQs with answers has been put together to provide counting agents with a snapshot view of how the counting process is designed, how it must work as well as when and how they may raise objections if they find any irregularities.

This summary version of the counting process is based on the following handbooks and manuals the Election Commission (EC) has published on its website:

• Hand Book for Counting Agent, 2023;
• Handbook for Returning Officer, 2023;
• Hand Book for Presiding Officer, 2023; and
• Manual on Electronic Voting Machine, 8th Edition, 2023.

Preliminaries

1. Who is a counting agent and what are their roles and responsibilities?

A counting agent is the representative of a candidate (independent or nominated by a political party) who is contesting elections to parliament or the state legislatures.

The counting agent’s job is to observe the counting process from the start till the end, and to report any irregularities that they notice, so that they may be rectified.

The presence of counting agents is an absolute must to ensure that the counting of votes cast by electors takes place strictly in accordance with established systems and procedures. Election laws and rules, as well as the guidelines issued by the EC, from time to time lay down these systems and procedures.

Counting agents are crucial for ensuring that the counting process is transparent and the counting officials in the first instance and ultimately the EC, are held accountable to the people – the primary stakeholders in the election process.

• 2. Who can be a counting agent? Who is barred from being a counting agent?

Each candidate or their election agent may appoint an Indian citizen who is at least 18 years old and who has the capability of understanding and carefully watching the counting process as that candidate’s counting agent. 

A sitting MP, MLA or minister; a mayor or chairperson of a municipality, zilla parishad or taluka/mandal panchayat or other equivalent body called by whatever name; is barred from being nominated as a counting agent.

Similarly, government servants, heads and employees of other government bodies or public sector companies or anybody who is receiving an honorarium or is working in government-aided institutions are not eligible for appointment as counting agents.

However, there is no bar on appointing a gram pradhan/sarpanch of a gram panchayat, elected members of such panchayats or municipal councillors or even an NRI (non-resident Indian) who continues to be a citizen of India, to represent a candidate as a counting agent.

• 3. Where does the counting of votes take place?

The returning officer (RO) must inform every candidate in writing with the exact location of the counting hall(s) identified for each election at least seven days before the date fixed for polling.

Ordinarily, the counting of all votes cast in a Vidhan Sabha constituency must take place at a single venue.

However, for a Lok Sabha constituency, multiple venues may be identified as counting halls based on the number of assembly segments it covers.

The counting hall is ordinarily located at a central place in the concerned constituency.

• 4. How many people can be appointed as counting agents?

The RO must inform every candidate with the total number of tables that will be arranged in each counting hall. Ordinarily, there will be a maximum of 14 tables where votes will be counted. A fifteenth table is provided for the RO.

A candidate or their election agent may appoint one counting agent for each of these tables and no more.

In the four states that have also gone to polls to elect new Vidhan Sabhas, counting will be done simultaneously, assembly segment-wise. Candidates or their election agents may appoint their counting agents for each of the tables set up for this purpose.

• 5. What kind of seating arrangements are made in the counting hall?

The RO assigns each counting table a serial number. The seating at every such table is arranged according to the following order of priority: counting agents of recognised national parties, followed by those of recognised state parties, and those of recognised state parties allowed to use their reserved symbols in the constituency, followed by those representing registered by unrecognised political parties and lastly, those of independent candidates.

Further, counting agents must be seated in the same order as that of the names of candidates printed on the ballot paper that was fixed on the ballot unit (BU) of the EVM at the time of polling.

Counting agents must sit only at the table allotted to each of them and not move around the hall. Only the candidate or their election agent – and in their absence the counting agent allotted to the RO’s table – will be permitted to go around all counting tables.

In constituencies where simultaneous polls are held for the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha seats, the counting tables in the counting hall are divided equally for counting votes cast in both elections.

Below are the layout plans for counting halls published by the EC for the guidance of ROs and counting agents.

• 6. Is a counting agent allowed to carry a mobile phone into the counting hall? What kinds of things may a counting agent carry to the counting hall?

No, counting agents are not permitted to carry mobile phones with them to the counting hall. In order to maintain the secrecy of voting, they are barred from carrying any audio-video recording device, including iPads and laptops.

At the time of permitting their entry to the counting venue, the RO will require counting agents to sign a declaration contained in their letters of appointment committing themselves to maintaining the secrecy of voting.

Only election observers permitted by EC may carry their mobile phones to the counting hall. These devices must remain in silent mode.

A counting agent must carry the identification badge issued by the RO, which will contain their name and the serial number of the table allotted to them, apart from other relevant details.

They are permitted to carry a copy of the document called ‘Form 17C’ that was supplied to their candidate’s polling agent at the end of polling, a pen or pencil as well as papers or a notepad.

The RO will make arrangements for the supply of water and refreshments outside the counting hall apart from toilet facilities.

After entering the counting hall, counting agents are allowed to move out only after the counting process is completed.

Smoking is not permitted at the counting venue. The RO may cause the search of the counting agent to ensure that no prohibited items are carried into the counting hall.

The counting process: postal ballots

• 7. Are postal ballots and votes recorded in EVMs counted simultaneously?

Yes. However, the EC’s instructions require that the counting of postal ballots be taken up first. Only those postal ballots received by the deadline set for that purpose will be counted.

The counting of votes recorded in EVMs begins 30 minutes after the commencement of the counting of postal ballots. The counting of EVM votes may begin at the appointed hour on counting day if the constituency does not have any paper ballots.

The tallying of the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips from machines selected by a draw of lots is taken up only after the completion of these two processes.

• 8. What are postal ballots?

There are two kinds of postal ballots – normal postal ballots (PBs) and electronically transmitted postal ballots (ETPBs). The list of such voters eligible to use postal ballots must be provided to every contesting candidate along with the copy of the electoral rolls for that constituency.

Postal ballots are meant for the use of voters on election duty, such as polling officers, presiding officers, polling agents, security personnel and other public servants who are enrolled in the voters list of the constituency but cannot vote at the allotted polling station because they are on election duty; individuals under preventive detention; and senior citizens and persons with disabilities who are allowed by the EC to vote from the comfort of their homes.

ETPBs are meant for the exclusive use of “service voters” (this category includes members of the army, navy and air force and Union police organisations like the Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force etc.; members of the police force of a state who are serving outside that state; ambassadors, high commissioners and their staff employed in Indian missions abroad.

(Service voters who have opted to vote by proxy are called “classified service voters”.)

• 9. What is the procedure for counting postal ballots?

Both PBs and ETPBs are counted at the 15th table, which is assigned to the RO in the counting hall.

The RO or the designated assistant RO (ARO) must explain and declare the criteria for a postal ballot to be treated as valid for the purpose of counting in front of all counting supervisors, assistants and micro-observers (in addition to the counting supervisor and counting assistant, a micro-observer is assigned to each counting table in the counting hall). 

The covers “B” in Form 13C containing the PBs received before the deadline must be opened one after the other. Two documents must be inside every such cover:

a) the declaration by the voter in Form 13A; and

b) the inner cover “A” in Form 13B, which contains the ballot paper marked by the voter.

The paper ballot is counted only if it does not attract any of the ineligibility criteria laid down by the EC. The valid votes are counted and each candidate is credited with the votes they have received from the electors.

The total number of PBs and ETPBs received by each candidate is recorded in the result sheet prepared by the RO in Form 20 and announced for the information of the candidates/election agents/counting agents after the counting process of this category of votes is completed.

Unlike Form 17C, which contains the exact number of electors who cast their votes at the polling station (whose copies must be given to the candidate/election agent/polling agent free of cost by the presiding officer at the end of polling), neither the candidate nor the counting agent will know the total number of PBs and ETPBs that had been received until the deadline set by the RO for the purpose of including them for counting the votes.

They will only get to know the total number and names of voters eligible for voting through postal ballot because this list is added at the bottom of the electoral rolls- copies of which the candidates are entitled to receive from the RO. 

10. When is a postal ballot rejected?

A postal ballot may be rejected at two stages. The first stage is the opening of cover “B”. The RO may reject the postal ballot if:

• The declaration in Form 13A is missing; or

• The declaration has not been duly signed by the voter or if it has not been duly attested by the competent officer or is otherwise substantially defective; or
• If the serial number of the ballot paper appearing on the declaration in Form 13A is different from the serial number endorsed on the inner cover “A” in Form 13B.

A postal ballot may be rejected if it successfully passes through the first stage but is subsequently found defective at the second stage for the following reasons:

• if no vote is recorded on it; or

• if vote is given in favour of more than one candidate; or

• if the ballot paper is found to be spurious (not the original supplied to the elector by the RO); or

• if the ballot paper is damaged and mutilated so much that its genuineness cannot be ascertained; or

• if the ballot is not returned in cover “B” sent along with it to the elector by the RO; or

• if the mark put on the ballot paper does not indicate in crystal clear fashion as to which candidate has been chosen; or
• if it bears any mark or writing by which the voter can be identified (thereby violating the secrecy of the ballot).

(See pages 7-10 of the ECI’s Handbook for Counting Agent, 2023 for further details of the elaborate procedure for counting PBs and ETPBs.)

• 11. When are postal ballots recounted?

In all cases where the margin of victory is less than the number of postal ballots rejected because they were found to be invalid, the RO must take a relook at them.

The RO must personally ascertain that the decision to reject the PBs and ETPBs was indeed correct. If any rejected PB or ETPB is found eligible for counting upon re-examination, the vote may be included into the candidate’s tally.

However, this re-examination must be done in the presence of counting agents and they may object to the inclusion of the rejected ballot. The observer and the RO must record the findings of such re-verification and satisfy themselves before finalising the result. Also see FAQ #25 below.

The Counting Process: EVM Votes

• 12. Which component of the EVM-VVPAT combo is brought to the counting hall?

It is common knowledge that the electronic voting machine is made up of three components: the ballot unit (BU) on which the voter presses their preference in favour of a candidate or NOTA (none of the above), the control unit (CU) which records the voter’s choice electronically and the VVPAT unit, which prints and displays the voter’s choice for a short period of time.

For the purpose of counting, all CUs are brought to the counting hall. All BUs are retained in the strong room after polling is completed, never to be brought into the counting hall.

As for VVPATs, only five machines for each assembly segment, selected through a draw of lots, are brought to the counting hall for the purpose of mandatory tallying with the candidate-wise vote count recorded in the CU which was connected to it on polling day.

Other VVPATs will continue to remain in the strong room unless they are required for counting due to emergent circumstances. See FAQs #21-23 below, for a description of these circumstances.

• 13. How are CUs distributed across the counting tables?

The counting of votes recorded on CUs must begin 30 minutes after the commencement of the counting of PBs and ETPBs. CUs are brought into the counting hall and distributed in the matching order of polling station numbers and the numbers assigned to the counting tables.

For example, the CU from polling station #1 of the constituency is assigned to table #1, and the CU from polling station #2 is assigned to table #2, and so on. So, 14 CUs will be counted at the 14 assigned counting tables in each round of counting.

The CUs for the next round of counting will not be brought to the counting tables until the counting of votes in the previous round’s CUs is completed.

CUs for the next round of counting will be brought in only on the verbal clearance of the RO or ARO, and the result of the previous round of counting is displayed on the whiteboard, blackboard or TV set established for this purpose.

Counting will be done in as many rounds as may be required, depending upon the number of polling stations in the constituency and the number of counting tables set up in the counting hall.

Each CU brought into the counting hall must be accompanied by a copy of Form 17C, which contains the record of the number of votes cast at the concerned polling station where the CU was deployed (this document does not contain the number of PBs and ETPBs).

• 14. Do counting agents have the right to handle the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and postal ballots during the counting process?

No, they do not have the right to handle either EVMs or postal ballots. They can only watch the counting process from behind a barricade or wire-mesh that separates them and the tables where counting takes place.

It is the RO’s responsibility to ensure that the counting process is fully visible to every counting agent from behind the barricade or wire-mesh. See the sample image of a counting hall below.

• 15. What aspects must the counting agent pay attention to at the start of counting the EVM votes?

The CU must be brought into the counting hall in its carrying case. Each CU already has a unique ID number assigned to it. Counting officials are required to match this number with the unique ID number noted in Form 17C, which accompanies the CU to the counting hall. 

Next, the seal affixed on the carrying case by the presiding officer after polling ended must be examined if it is intact. However, the CU need not be rejected if the seal is not found to be intact, because the next stage will ascertain whether the CU has been tampered with or not.

During this second stage, the counting supervisor, counting assistants and the micro-observer will examine if the seals are intact.

After the candidate setting is done in the EVM-VVPAT combo as preparation for the polling, the RO would have affixed an address tag with their seal on the ‘candidate set’ button.

On polling day, after conducting the mock poll to ascertain that the EVM-VVPAT combo is in perfect working order, the presiding officer would have affixed a ‘modified green paper seal’ on the ‘result’ button of the CU. This seal would have been signed by the polling agents present at the polling station.

The counting agents must verify that these seals are intact and also be in a position to recognise the signatures of the polling agent of the candidate they are representing.

The satisfaction of counting agents that the seals have not been tampered with is crucial before the votes recorded in the CU are counted. The details of the paper seals used for the EVM-VVPAT combo are also entered in Form 17C and countersigned by the polling agents after polling is completed.

As counting agents are allowed to bring copies of Form 17C with them to the counting hall, it is important for the candidate or their election agents to assign the counting agents to each counting table and supply them with the copies of Form 17C in accordance with the serial numbers of the polling station.

Only if this is done with due care will the counting agents be able to verify the unique ID number and the serial numbers on the tags affixed on the CU that will be shown to them at the counting table.

If the unique ID number on the CU does not match with the number recorded in Form 17C or the seals affixed on it appear to have been tampered with, counting agents have every right to object to the CU’s inclusion in the counting process.

Counting officials have a duty to set the CU aside if the seals on it appear to be tampered with and bring it to the notice of the RO immediately. The RO must ascertain whether the mismatch between the serial numbers is just a clerical error, or if there is a strong possibility of the machine having been replaced, or if the seals have been tampered with.

If the RO is satisfied that the CU has been mishandled or tampered with, they will keep it apart and not count the votes recorded in it. Next, the RO is required to report the matter to the EC for directions.

However, counting of votes recorded on other CUs at other counting tables can be proceeded with if they satisfy the criteria mentioned above.

• 16. What other aspects must be checked to ensure that the CUs have not been tampered with?

After verifying the unique ID number of the CU and ascertaining that the seals affixed are intact, the counting supervisor holds up the CU for the counting agents to see it clearly. Then the counting supervisor turns on the power switch in its rear compartment. The “on” lamp in the CU’s display panel will glow green.

Next, the ‘total’ button will be pressed to check whether the total number of votes recorded in the CU as displayed on the panel match with the total number of votes recorded in Form 17C of that polling station.

Then, the display panel will also show the poll start date and time and poll end date and time. These must match with the respective date and time mentioned in the mock poll certificate which is signed by the presiding officer before the start of actual polling and countersigned by the polling agents present.

As regards the time at which polls were closed (after every voter has cast their vote), that data is recorded in the presiding officer’s diary.

Unfortunately, none of the manuals and handbooks of the EC indicate whether a copy of this mock poll certificate or the presiding officer’s diary must be supplied to polling agents. So, counting agents will have no official document with them to verify the date and time of the start and end of the poll.

Therefore, counting agents must ascertain the information about the start date and time and closing time of the polls from the polling agents who were present at the polling station before they reach the counting hall. They may also demand that the mock poll certificate be produced to address and decide upon the nature of any discrepancy in the date and time that may be discovered.

If any or all of these data do not match perfectly, the CU is most likely to have become defective or has been tampered with. The RO is required to set aside such CUs without counting the votes recorded in them and refer the matter to the EC.

• 17. How are results extracted from the CUs?

After ascertaining that the CUs are exactly the same machines that were used during polling and that they have not been tampered with, the counting supervisor then presses the ‘total’ button on the CU. If the total number of votes displayed on the panel of the CU matches with the total votes polled as recorded in Form 17C, the counting supervisor may proceed to press the ‘result’ button.

If the two figures do not match, that CU must be kept aside and the votes recorded in it will not be counted. Instead, the VVPAT slips from the unit connected to that CU on polling day will be counted.

If all is well with the CU, then the counting supervisor pierces through the green paper seal affixed over the ‘result’ button located under the upper aperture of the inner cover of the ‘result’ section of the CU and presses it. The candidate-wise result will be displayed in the same sequential order in which the names and serial numbers of candidates and their symbols were displayed on the BU on polling day.

However, these names and symbols will not be displayed on the CU because of the manner in which it is designed. As none of the BUs will be brought to the counting hall, the counting agents would do well to memorise the sequential order of the serial number and the names of candidates to be able to make a note of the number of votes cast in their favour in their own notebook or papers.

After making a note of the candidate-wise votes recorded in the CU and as displayed on its panel, in Part-II of Form 17C, the counting supervisor must obtain the signatures of the counting agents on it under the following sentence they must write with a pen: “We hereby certify that CU No.(s) is/are the same which were used in the Polling Station No……”.

If required, the result button may be pressed again to enable counting agents to note down the results. After the results are noted, the cover of the results section is closed, the CU is switched off and put back in its carrying case. Then it will be removed from the counting hall and a fresh CU will be brought to the counting table as per the verbal instructions of the RO.

• 18. What if the CU does not display the result at the time of counting?

According to the ECI’s Manual on Electronic Voting Machine, 8th Edn., 2023, if the CU does not display the result, its power pack must be replaced with a fresh one. Even if this step does not ensure the display of results, the CU must be put in its carrying case and handed over to the RO.

The corresponding VVPAT unit must be brought to the counting hall after all rounds of counting of the votes recorded in other CUs are completed and then the concerned VVPAT slips must be counted.

• 19. What if the mock poll data is not deleted from the CU?

One of the reasons why the total number of votes displayed on the CU might not match with the total number recorded on the related Form 17C is because the mock poll data might not have been erased before the start of actual polling. So, in such cases, the votes recorded in the CU showing data mismatch will not be counted.

Such CUs will be set aside and the remaining rounds of counting will proceed. If the winning margin is more than the total votes polled in the polling stations where such CUs were used (this figure can be calculated by adding up the voter turnout figures in the respective Forms 17C), the results will be declared without taking into account these votes at all.

If the winning margin is equal or less than the votes polled at the polling stations where these CUs were used, the VVPAT slips will be counted and the votes recorded in the corresponding CUs will not be taken into account.

Even if the mock poll VVPAT slips have not been removed, the remaining slips in favour of the respective candidates will be counted and the candidate-wise votes polled during the mock poll will be deducted from the candidate-wise totals. The VVPAT slip count result of these CUs will be added to the candidate-wise tally of votes while compiling the final results.

• 20. What is the procedure for counting VVPAT slips?

A separate booth must be set up in the counting hall for the purpose of counting VVPAT slips. VVPAT slips are taken up for counting only after the votes in all CUs have been counted and there are no more CUs to be brought to the counting table.

The counting is done under the close supervision of the RO and the observer and under the gaze of the counting agents assigned for this purpose. All other counting officials and counting agents must be removed from the counting hall before this process starts.

First, the VVPAT slips of polling stations for which the CUs did not display the results must be taken up for counting.

Second, the VVPAT slips from polling stations where the CUs were not cleared of mock poll data and the winning margin is equal to or less than the votes polled at such stations must be taken up.

Third, VVPAT slips from the polling stations for which a candidate is demanding that such slips be counted under Ruled 56D must be taken up if the RO has issued a speaking order permitting such counting.

Last, the mandatory verification of five randomly selected polling stations must be taken up for each assembly constituency or assembly segment of each Lok Sabha constituency.

• 21. What is Rule 56D?

Under Rule 56D of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, any candidate may make an application to the RO seeking the count of the VVPAT slips of any or all polling stations in the constituency. The RO may allow such an application on the following grounds by issuing a speaking order:

1. Whether the total number of votes polled in that polling station is greater or lesser than the margin of votes between the winning candidate and the candidate who has made such an application;
2. Whether the EVM and VVPAT has a problem and was replaced at the polling station mid-way during the polling; or
3. Whether there was any complaint about the VVPAT unit not printing the slips or if a voter had complained under Rule 49MA that the slip was not printed with the details of the candidate in whose favour he/she had cast the vote.

If there is any discrepancy between the candidate tally as recorded in the CU and the VVPAT slip count, the latter will be taken into account for the purpose of declaring results and the figures from the CU(s) will be discarded.

• 22. How are the VVPAT units selected for random verification?

The RO selects the polling stations whose VVPAT units will be picked up for mandatory verification by a draw of lots in the presence of the candidates or their counting agents and the general observer appointed for that constituency.

White-coloured paper cards of postcard size pre-printed with the assembly constituency-segment number and the name and date of polling on top and the polling station number printed in the centre of the card will be used to draw the lots.

Each card will be shown to the candidate or counting agent and four-folded to hide the printed details before being dropped in the container. The container must be shaken well to mix up the cards.

Then, the RO picks the cards at random. The VVPAT units from the polling stations so chosen must be brought to the counting booth for counting.

• 23. What if the VVPAT slips do not tally with the candidate-wise vote count recorded on the CU?

The VVPAT slips must be counted until one of the two situations occur – either the VVPAT count tallies with the votes recorded on the CU or two rounds of counting of the VVPAT slips yield an identical vote tally for each candidate even though it does not match with the electronic count on the CU.

According to Rule 56D, if there is a mismatch between the votes recorded on the CU and VVPAT unit, the latter will prevail.

• 24. How are the final results compiled?

Every counting supervisor will prepare two copies of the candidate-wise results obtained from each CU in Part-II of Form 17C using carbon paper. The original is handed over to the RO or ARO for the purpose of computing the round-wise tally of votes.

The carbon copy is used for making copies to be supplied to the counting agents at the respective tables. The RO shows the copy of the result sheet to the candidate or counting agents assigned to their table to enable them to note down the round-wise results.

The RO then countersigns the document and sends it to the officer who is tasked with compiling the final result and preparing the final result sheet in Form 20. This officer also has the responsibility for entering the candidate-wise vote tally from the counting of PBs and ETPBs in the final result sheet.

• 25. Can a candidate ask for a recount of the votes recorded in the CUs after all rounds of counting are completed?

According to the EC, every vote recorded in the EVM-VVPAT combo is a valid vote, so there is no need for a recount as in the era of paper ballots, when the validity of the votes cast was to be determined on the basis of crystal-clear criteria laid down in the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

However, Rule 63 continues to apply in relation to the constituencies. Under Rule 63, every candidate has a right to demand a recount of the votes polled after all rounds of counting are completed and the RO announces the result giving the candidate-wise tally of votes recorded in the final result sheet in Form 20.

After this announcement is made, the candidate or in their absence, the appointed counting agent may submit an application in writing for a recount of the votes recorded at all or any of the polling stations. The application must indicate the grounds on which such recount is being demanded.

In order to enable this right of seeking recount, the RO will announce the exact hour and minute up to which they will wait for receiving the written application demanding a recount. A similar demand may be made for the recount of PBs and ETPBs in writing. 

Allowing or rejecting such applications is left to the best judgement of the RO, who will examine the tenability of the grounds mentioned in them. If the RO decides to allow a recount, partially or wholly, of the votes recorded in the CUs or the PBs and the ETPBs, the entire process of counting explained above will be followed through again.

The final result sheet will be amended to reflect the candidate-wise tally if the recount necessitates it. Then the amended final result sheet will be completed and signed, and the RO will publicly declare the result of the election for the last and final time.

Conclusion

These FAQs and related answers have been compiled after going through the manuals and handbooks published by the EC. In case of any doubt, readers are advised to go through those official documents to seek clarifications.

This compilation has been put together to serve only as a ready reckoner for interested counting agents. No claim is being made that this compilation will prevail over the official version of the counting systems and procedures observed and published by the EC. Counting agents are advised to read through the official documents to sensitise themselves well before going to the counting hall.

Last but not least, this compilation is also intended to inform other citizens as to how the counting process unfolds because they will not get the opportunity to witness the proceedings in the counting hall.

It is hoped that this ready reckoner will serve them as the backdrop against which to make sense of the controversies that are likely to arise during and after the counting of votes on June 4, 2024 as is commonplace with every such election.

Venkatesh Nayak is director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi. Views are personal.